Airplane



pr 7, 1931. v. J. BURNELLI AIHPLANE Filed Jan.

1.111,1 FIlll'rll m l Patented pr. 7, 1931 i UNITED sTATizsl PATENT OFFICE A vmcnn'r J. RURNELLI, or NEW YORK, N.. Y., AssrGNoR 'ro THE UrrnRcU-BURNELLI CORPORATION, A CORPORATION. or DELAWARE AIRPLANE Application led January 11, 1928. Serial No. 245,857.

I This invention relates to airplanes of the all wing type and my improvements are directed to certain noveland useful structures may be increased.

Y trussed bracing extended between the front' l and arrangements of parts whereby the eciency andserviceability of such airplanes Briefiy my said improvements may be summarized as follows:

(1) The location of motors between the front and rear spars within an airfoil contour.

(2) The provision of a box-like motor mount composed of longitudinals and and rear spare.

(3) The provision of an extension housing for the propeller shaft that extends through the airfoil entering edge, said housing being bolted to a vertical web disposed longitudinally in the airfoil nose. y

(4) The provision of openings through the walls separating a central airfoil from side airtoils to enable access to be had from said central airfoil to the engines in the side airfoils.

(5) The suspension of a cabin beneath the airfoil in the region of the front spar, for occupation by the pilot, navigator, bomber or passengers, said cabin having windows at its front, rear and sides to permit range of vision laterally and downwardly, upward clearance means permitting access and view into the airfoil interior.

ing engines, indicated at 2, mounted in the nose -portion thereof, in advance of the front spar 3, the interior of said nose portion being designated the engine room, and passenger accommodation located inV an intermediate portion of the airfoil extended from the front spar 3 and the rearward spar 4, said Jspar 3 and into the interior of airfoill rear- 100 tral airfoil 1 are alike, t

accommodation being designated the passenger saloon.

The motors 2 respectively operate propel- 1ers 5 whose shafts are extended out from the airfoil entering edge through housings 6.

p In the example of my improved airplane illustrated in the drawing smaller airfoils 7 are show n as extended from the sides of a larger, central airfoil, though I donot limit myself to this particular' structure as my invention equally comprehends the use of a single airfoil of considerable span, having a conterminous entering edge.

Since the airfoils 7 at op osite sides of cenle description of one equally a plies to the other.

Thus the ront and rear spars 8 and 9 in 8 and 9. Angled frames 13, connected with spar 8 and also engaging the mount 11, serve to Jfurther reinforce the supporting means therefor.

Extended forwardly from the front spar 8 and projecting through the nose or leading edge 14 of airfoil 7 is a housing 15 for the shaft 16 of propeller 17. Said housing is formed in two parts having langes 18 that are bolted tovertical-webs 19 which in turn are bolted to a rib iiange 2O within the nose 4portion 14. v

Angle members 21, secured to the spar 8 l and also engaging the housing 15, further reinforce the supporting means for said housing. p

An opening 22 is provided-4 through the wall 23 separating the interiors of airfoils, 1

and 7 to enable access to be had to motor 11.l

Attached to the underside ofairfoil 1 is a cabin structure 24, ofstream-lined form,

located beneath the front spar 3the airfoil` bottom being apertured above said cabin to rovide means of .observationfrom the cabin into the engine compartment forwardly of wardly of said spar, where' there may be paswith lookout means and means o f observa.- sen' er accommodation. Also .by means of tion between said cabin and the airfoll intemaarre sai airfoil bottom being apertured communirior.

cation can be had between said cabin and the interior of said airfoil.

As the depth of cabin 24 may be limited. so that a pilot seated therein would have insuficient head room with respect to spar 3, I may provide a clearance, indicated at 25, in the under surface of said spar. The cabin is provided all around its walls with windows 26, thus affording the pilot, and others located therein a range of vision that is not available7 from any other centrally located cockpit or observation space in an all wing airplane of previously known design.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 435,481, filed January 6, 1921.

Variations within the spirit and scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

1. The combination with an airfoil having a forward spar and a motor dis osed rearward of said spar, of a housing or the propeller shaft that extends through and beyond the leading ed e of said airfoil, and bracing neans for sai housing within said leading e ge.

2. In an all wing airplane having a central supporting airfoil section of full length, and lateral supporting airfoils, of shorter chord, extending from opposite sides of said cen'- tral section, the combination of front and rear spars that are extended continuously through said central section and said airfoils of shorter chord, longerons constituting a motor mount located wholly between said spars and connected therewith, and truss re'- inforcement for said longerons extending between said longerons and the lower surface of the airfoil and also connected with said spars.

3. In an all win airplane having a central supporting air oil section of full length, and lateral supporting airfoils, of shorter chord, extending from opposite sides of said central section, the combination of front and rear spars that are extended continuously through said central section and said airfoils of shorter chord, longerons constituting a motor mount located wholly between said spars and connected therewith, and angled rames connected with the top and bottom of one of said spars and said longerons.

4. The combination with an airfoil having an interior spar, of a motor mount in said airfoil, located forwardly of said spar, a motor upon said mount, a cabin structure attached to rand depending from the bottom' of said airfoil, beneath said spar and extended both forwardly and rearwardly thereof, said cabin structure containing the motor control means, and adapted for occupancy New York, December 28th, 1927.

VINCENT J. BURNELLI,

1lOl) 1ers 

